STAND. COM. REP. NO.901

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 911

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO QUEST,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enable health plans and providers to actively reach out to high-risk populations including:

(1) High-risk pregnant women and girls;

(2) Native Hawaiians with early onset of chronic disease; and

(3) Chronic substance abusers,

by removing financial disincentives in the QUEST program. In addition, this bill appropriates funds for additional staffing of the Department of Human Services (DHS).

The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Kokua Council, and Aloha Care testified in support of this measure. DHS and Hawaii Medical Service Association opposed this measure.

 

Your Committee finds that health plans and providers are paid a set amount regardless of whether an assigned patient needs frequent and expensive care or never uses the benefit at all. Some nonprofit, community health care providers are actively reaching out to many high-risk patients who otherwise would not seek out primary medical care. This measure would provide an incentive for more health plans and providers to participate in outreach services.

Your Committee noted that two crucial measures related to QUEST were heard earlier this session, and your Committee would like to incorporate the substance of these measures into this bill.

Therefore, your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Including the substance of H.B. No. 942, H.D. 1, to extend coverage of the Children's Health Insurance Program to include children whose income is at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level;

(2) Including the substance of H.B. No. 292, H.D. 1, to restore QUEST benefits to income-eligible legal immigrants and migrants during and up to three months after pregnancy; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Housing,

____________________________

MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair